Yeomanthefirst
7 posts
Feb 26, 2011
10:11 AM
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Can anyone help me out? I use a crystal element JT30 with a very long lead, about 12 metres, into a valve Fender Champ. Originally, I had the lead made this length to get as far away from my amp as possible to help eliminate feedback. I get a fantastic sound from it. When I swap to a shorter lead via a Switchcraft adaptor, the sound seems much less gritty and dirty and just harder and a bit brighter (not in a good way) As far as I can tell, both cables are very similar, made from high quality, noiseless cable though the shorter is a standard instrument cable. I had the longer one made to order from a local music shop in the 1970's. I want to maintain the sound I get from the long, 12 metre cable but the length is a pain. I'd like to shorten it, BUT, in case the length is the reason for the better, slightly fuller, creamier sound, I don't want to risk it as an experiment and destroy something wonderful! It would be good to know if anyone else has experience of cable and effect on sound or whether there is anyone who can shed some light on this particular combination.
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MrVerylongusername
1576 posts
Feb 26, 2011
10:26 AM
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Long, unbalanced hi-impedance cable runs are subject to signal loss (notably in high frequencies) and noise interference. This is the main reason why most microphones these days are low impedance and use balanced cables.
Having said that, a cable run of 12 metres isn't that excessive.
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isaacullah
1411 posts
Feb 26, 2011
10:29 AM
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Also, long cable runs (especially unbalanced) have an inherent capacitance. That is, they work like a capacitor in series with the signal, blocking high frequencies, and thus changing the tonal qualities of the signal. I'm not sure if 12 meters is enough, but that might be what's happening...
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Bruce S
26 posts
Feb 26, 2011
10:38 AM
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12 metres is plenty long enough to cause high frequency loss through capacitance. I've noticed a difference between a 3m/10' cable and a 6m/20' cable in terms of overall brightness.
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tmf714
509 posts
Feb 26, 2011
10:44 AM
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If you want a 20' cable without signal loss,get in touch with Chuck Gurney-www.fatbottom-mics.com
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walterharp
547 posts
Feb 26, 2011
11:13 AM
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sounds like yeoman likes the signal loss with a longer cable
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oldwailer
1553 posts
Feb 26, 2011
12:53 PM
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That's interesting--if there was room on the thing--might work to put another pot on there with a cap to ground--I'd have to figure out the values--then you could have a tone knob right there on the mic and adjust the capacitance. I'll have to play around with an old bullet I've got that's currently broke--it might be too hard to cup with two knobs--but maybe worth a try. . .
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chromaticblues
638 posts
Feb 26, 2011
12:54 PM
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I've read that you can have the cable up to 25'. I have build many hard wired mics with 15' cables. It matters what quality the cable is also, but a high quatily cable with a good ground shouldn't be any longer than 7 meters! Cut yours in half and you should be fine!
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isaacullah
1413 posts
Feb 26, 2011
1:17 PM
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If you want to mimic the capacitance effect of the long cable run, you can dissassemble one lead from your short cable and add a capacitor in series with your hot lead (i.e., use the cap to connect the hot wire of the cable to the hot lead of the plug). I couldn't tell you what value cap to use to exactly mimic the high frequency roll off that you get with your long cable. You'd have to experiment. Start somewhere around 1uf and go down and/or up in capacitance value in small increments.
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Last Edited by on Feb 26, 2011 1:17 PM
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Yeomanthefirst
8 posts
Feb 26, 2011
2:15 PM
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Whoah! Lots of info to digest there, many thanks guys. Interesting ideas from oldwailer & isaacullah. I do love the sound I get from the long cable and would like to duplicate it with a shorter one. Looks like experimentation is the order of the day. I'd be really interested to hear from anyone who has done what the above suggest in terms of capacitance adjustment.
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lumpy wafflesquirt
322 posts
Feb 26, 2011
3:13 PM
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can't you just coil up the unwanted portion and zip tie it in place?
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